
















UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 


THE 

RULES OP THE SENATE, 

AND THE 

JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 
1836 . 























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THE 


CONSTITUTION 


NITED STATES OF AMERICA 


C&i>or&$S 


RULES OF THE SENATE, 


AND THE 


JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 


Printed by order of the Senate of the United States. 




WASHINGTON : 


TR1NTED BY GALES & SEATOJN. 

1835. 

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CONSTITUTION- 


We the People of the United States, in order to form 
a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domes¬ 
tic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, pro¬ 
mote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of 
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and 
establish this Constitution for the United States of 
America. 


ARTICLE I. 

SECTION I. 

All legislative powers herein granted shall Legislative 
be vested in a Congress of the* United States, powen> 

, which shall consist of a Senate and House of 
Representatives. 


SECTION II. 

The House of Representatives shall be com- Members of 
posed ol members chosen every second year resentatives, 
by the people of the several States, and the how chosen - 
electors in each State shall have the qualifica¬ 
tions requisite for electors of the most nume¬ 
rous branch of the State Legislature. 

No person shall be a Representative who Qualification 
shall not have attained to the age of twenty- 
five years, and been seven years a citizen of Representa- 
the United States, and who shall not, when tlves * 
elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which 
he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be A PP ortion- 
apportioned among the several States which “semaufe^ 
c may be included within this Union, according 
to their respective numbers, which shall be 



4 


CONSTITUTION. 


[Art. 1 


Vacancies, 
how filled. 


House of Re¬ 
presentatives 
choose offi¬ 
cers. 


Senate, how 
chosen. 


Senators 

classed. 


determined by adding to the whole number 
of free persons, including those bound to ser¬ 
vice for a term of years, and excluding In¬ 
dians not taxed, three-fifths of all other per¬ 
sons. The actual enumeration shall be made 
within three years after the first meeting of 
the Congress of the United States, and with¬ 
in every subsequent term of ten years, in such 
manner as they shall by law direct. The num¬ 
ber of Representatives shall not exceed one 
for every thirty thousand, but each State shall 
have at least one Representative ; and, until 
such enumeration shall be made, the State of 
New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose 
three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and 
Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five. 
New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylva¬ 
nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Vir¬ 
ginia ten, North Carolina five, South Caro¬ 
lina five, and Georgia three. 

When vacancies happen in the representa¬ 
tion from any State, the executive authority 
thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall choose 
their Speaker and other officers; and shall 
have the sole power of impeachment. 

section in. 

The Senate of the United States shall be 
composed of two Senators from each State, 
chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six 
years; and each Senator shall have one vote* 

Immediately after they shall be assembled 
in consequence of the first election, they shall 
be divided as equally as may be into three 
classes. The seats of the Senators of the first. 


Art. 1 .] 


CONSTITUTION. 


5 


class shall be vacated at the expiration of the 
second year, of the second class at the expira¬ 
tion of the fourth year, and of the third class 
at the expiration of the sixth year, so that 
one-third may be chosen every second year; 
and if vacancies happen by resignation or 
otherwise, during the recess of the Legisla¬ 
ture of any State, the executive thereof may 
make temporary appointments, until the next 
meeting of the Legislature, which shall then 
fill such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not Senator quaii* 
have attained to the age of thirty years, and 1Cd lon ' 
been nine years a citizen of the United States, 
and who shall not, when elected, be an in¬ 
habitant of that State for which he shall be 
chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States Vic e Presi- 
shall be President of the Senate, but shall dent vote ' 
have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, Senate chooae 
and also a President pro*tempore, in the ab- officers ' 
sence of the Vice President, or when he shall 
exercise the office of President of the United 
States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to Tr y im F each - 
try all impeachments: when sitting for that men& ‘ 
purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. 

When the President of the United States is 
tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: and no 
person shall be convicted w ithout the concur¬ 
rence of two-thirds of the members present. 

Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall Judgment on 
not extend farther than to removal from office, impeachr * a! 
and disqualification to hold and enjoy any of¬ 
fice of honor, trust, or profit, under the United 
States: but the party convicted shall never 
1 * 


CONSTITUTION. 


[Art. L 


theless be liable and subject to indictment, 
trial, judgment, and punishment, according 
to law. 


SECTION IV. 


Elections, 
how held. 


The times, places, and manner, of holding 
elections for Senators and Representatives, 
shall be prescribed in each State by the Legis¬ 
lature thereof; but the Congress may at any 
time by law make or alter such regulations, 
except as to the places of choosing Senators. 
Congress as- The Congress shall assemble at least once 
a ii y . in every year, and such meeting shall be on 

the first Monday in December, unless they 
shall by law appoint a different day. 


SECTION v. 


how Cti °ud ed Each House shall be the judge of the elec- 
J U tions, returns, and qualifications, of its own 
members, and a majority of each shall consti- 
auorum, Se- tute a quorum to do business; but a smaller 
ouseofRan num b er may adjourn from day to day, and 
may be authorized to compel the attendance 
of absent members, in such manner, and under 
such penalties, as each House may provide. 

Each House may determine the rules of its 
proceedings, punish its members for disorder¬ 
ly behavior, and, with the concurrence of 
two-thirds, expel a member. 

Each House shall keep a journal of its pro- 
ceedings, and from time to time publish the 
same, excepting such parts as may, in their 
judgment, require secrecy; and the yeas and 
nays of the members of either House on any 
question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of 
those present, be entered on the Journal. 
Neither House, during the session of Con- 


Houseof Rep 
resentatives 


Rules. 


Journals by 
each House. 


Art . 1.] 


CONSTITUTION, 


7 


gress, shall, without the consent of the other, Adjournment, 
adjourn for more than three days, nor to any 
other place than that in which the two Houses 
shall be sitting. 


SECTION VI. 

The Senators and Representatives shall re- Compensa 
ceive a compensation for their services, to be t,on ' 
ascertained by law, and paid out of the Trea¬ 
sury of the United States. They shall in all Privileges, 
cases except treason, felony, and breach of the 
peace, be privileged from arrest during their Arrest . 
attendance at the session of their respective 
Houses, and in going to and returning from 
the same ; and for any speech or debate in 
either House, they shall not be questioned in 
any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during Members not 
the time for which he was elected, be appoint- ^ p c ° inted to 
ed to any civil office undfer the authority of 
the United States, which shall have been cre¬ 
ated, or the emoluments whereof shall have 
been increased during such time: and no per¬ 
son holding any office under the United States 
shall be a member of either House during his 
continuance in office. 

SECTION VII. 

All bills for raising revenue shall originate Bills, rere 
in the House of Representatives; but the Se- RepVesema- 0 ** 
nate may propose, or concur with, amend- tives. 
ments, as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the Bills, their 
House of Representatives and the Senate, formallt,es - 
shall, before it become a law, be presented 
to the President of the United States; if he 
approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall 


8 


CONSTITUTION. 


[Art. 1. 


Resolutions 
and votes be¬ 
fore the Pre¬ 
sident of the 
United States. 


Congress lay 
taxes. 


return it, with his objections, to that House 
in which it shall have originated, who shall 
enter the objections at large on their journal, 
and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such re¬ 
consideration, two-thirds of that House, shall 
agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together 
with the objections, to the other House, by 
which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and, 
if approved by two-thirds of that House, it 
shall become a law. But in all such cases 
the votes of both Houses shall be determined 
by yeas and nays, and the names of the per¬ 
sons voting for and against the bill shall be 
entered on the journal of each House respect¬ 
ively. If any bill shall not be returned by 
the President within ten days (Sundays ex¬ 
cepted, ) after it shall have been presented to 
him, the same shall be a law, in like manner 
as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by 
their adjournment prevent its return, in which 
case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote, to which 
the concurrence of the Senate and House of 
Representatives may be necessary (except 
on a question of adjournment) shall be pre¬ 
sented to the President of the United States, 
and, before the same shall take effect, shall 
be approved by him, or, being disapproved 
by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of 
the Senate and House of Representatives, ac¬ 
cording to the rules and limitations prescribed 
in the case of a bill. 

SECTION VIII. 

The Congress shall have power to lay 
and collect taxes, duties, imposts and ex¬ 
cises, to pay the debts and provide for the 


Art. 1.] 


CONSTITUTION, 


9 


common defence and general welfare of the 
United States; but all duties, imposts, and 
excises, shall be uniform throughout the United 
States; 

To borrow money on the credit of the Borrow 
United States; monejr - 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, Commerce, 
and among the several States, and with the &c. 

Indian tribes; 

To establish an uniform rule of naturaliza- Naturaiiza 
tion, and uniform laws on the subject of bank- tion > &c - 
ruptcies, throughout the United States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, Coin, &c. 
and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of 
weights and measures; 

To provide for the punishment of counter- Punish coun 
feiting the securities and current coin of the terfeltin s« 
United States; 

To establish post offices and post roads; Post offices, 

To promote the progress of science andf^ mote 
useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to science, 
authors and inventors the exclusive right to 
their respective writings and discoveries; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Su- Congress 
preme Court; . 

To define and punish piracies and felonies Piracies, &c. 
committed on the high seas, and offences 
against the law of nations; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and Declare war, 
reprisal, and make rules concerning captures 
on land or water; 

To raise and support armies, but no ap- Raise armies . 
propriation of money to that use shall be for 
a longer term than two years; 

To provide and maintain a navy; Navy. 

To make rules for the government and re¬ 
gulation of the land and naval forces; 


10 


Militia. 


Organize 

militia. 


Exclusive le¬ 
gislation over 
ten miles. 


Congress 
make laws 
general. 


Importation 
of persons 
after 1808. 


CONSTITUTION. [Aft. 1. 

To provide for calling forth the militia to 
execute the laws of the Union, suppress in¬ 
surrections, and repel invasions; 

To provide for organizing, arming, and 
disciplining, the militia, and for governing 
such part of them as may be employed in the 
service of the United States, reserving to the 
States, respectively, the appointment of the 
officers, and the authority of training the mi¬ 
litia according to the discipline prescribed by 
Congress; 

To exercise exclusive legislation in all 
cases whatsoever, over such district (not ex¬ 
ceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession 
of particular States, and the acceptance of 
Congress, become the seat of the Government 
of the United States, and to exercise like au¬ 
thority over all places purchased by the con¬ 
sent of the Legislature of the State in which 
the same shall be, for the erection of forts, 
magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other 
needful buildings; and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary 
and proper for carrying into execution the 
foregoing powers, and all other powers vest¬ 
ed by this Constitution in the Government of 
the United States, or in any department or 
office thereof. 


SECTION IX. 

The migration or importation of such per¬ 
sons as any of the States now existing shall 
think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited 
by the Congress prior to the year eighteen 
hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be 
imposed on such importation, not exceeding 
ten dollars for each person. 


CONSTITUTION. 


11 


Art. 1.] 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus Habeas cor- 
shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases pus ’ 
of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law Attainder, 
shall be passed. 

No capitation, or other direct, tax shall be Tax * 
laid, unless in proportion to the census or enu¬ 
meration herein before directed to be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles ex- e *p° rt *- 
ported from any State. “ ondu,y - 

No preference shall be given by any regu- No .prefer- 
lation of commerce or revenue to the ports ot merce or ton . 
one State over those of another: nor shall ves- nage. 
sels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged 
to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Trea- Money, how 
sury, but in consequence of appropriations awn ' 
made by law; and a regular statement and 
account of the receipts and expenditures of 
all public money shall be published from time 
to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by Titles not to 
the United States : and no person holding any be conf « rred - 
office of profit or trust under them, shall, 
without the consent of the Congress, accept 
of any present, emolument, office, or title, of 
any kind whatever, from any king, prince, 
or foreign state. 


section x. 

No State shall enter into any treaty, al- States, not 
liance, or confederation; grant letters of™ e ake trea 
marque and reprisal; coin money ; emit bills 
of credit; make any thing but gold and silver 
coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any 
bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law 


12 


States not lay 
imposts, &c. 


Or tonnage, 
<fcc. 


Executive 

power. 


Electors, how 
appointed. 


constitution. [Art. 2 , 

impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant 
any title of nobility. 

No State shall, without the consent of the 
Congress, lay any imposts or duties on im¬ 
ports or exports, except what may be abso¬ 
lutely necessary for executing its inspection 
laws: and the nett produce of all duties and 
imposts, laid by any State on imports or ex¬ 
ports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of 
the United States; and all such laws shall be 
subject to the revision and control of the 
Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of Con¬ 
gress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, 
or ships of war, in time of peace, enter into 
any agreement or compact with another State, 
or with a foreign power, or engage in war, 
unless actually invaded, or in such imminent 
danger as will not admit of delay. 

ARTICLE II. 

SECTION I. 

The executive power shall be vested in a 
President of the United States of America. 
He shall hold his office during the term of 
four years, and, together with the Vice Pre¬ 
sident, chosen for the same term, be elected 
as follows: 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner 
as the Legislature thereof may direct, a num¬ 
ber of electors, equal to the whole number of 
Senators and Representatives to which the 
State may be entitled in the Congress; but no 
Senator or Representative, or person holding 
an office of trust or profit under the United 
States, shall be appointed an elector. 


Art. 2.] 


CONSTITUTION. 


IS 


The electors shall meet in their respective Electors 
States, and vote by ballot for two persons, of meet * 
whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant 
of the same State with themselves. And they 
shall make a list of all the persons voted for, 
and of the number of votes for each; which Proceedings, 
list they shall sign and certify, and transmit 
sealed to the seat of the Government of the 
United States, directed to the President of 
the Senate. The President of the Senate 
shall, in the presence of the Senate and House 
of Representatives, open all the certificates, 
and the votes shall then be counted. The 
person having the greatest number of votes 
shall be the President, if such number be a 
majority of the whole number of electors 
appointed; and if there be more than one who 
have such majority, and have an equal num- 
her of votes, then the House of Representa¬ 
tives shall immediately choose, by ballot, 
one of them for President; and if no person 
have a majority, then from the five highest 
on the list the said House shall, in like man¬ 
ner, choose the President. But in choosing 
the President, the votes shall be taken by 
States, tbe representation from each State 
having one vote; a quorum for this purpose 
shall consist of a member or members from 
two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all 
the States shall be necessary to a choice. In 
every case, after the choice of the President, 
the person having the greatest number of votes 
of the electors shall be the Vice President. 

But if there should remain two or more who 
have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from 
them by ballot the Vice President, 

2 


14 


CONSTITUTION. 


[Art. 2. 

Day electors The Congress may determine the time of 

ll)€€t O J # 

choosing the electors, and the day on which 
they shall give their votes; which day shall 
be the same throughout the United States. 
Qualifications No person except a natural born citizen, 
of the"united or a citizen of the United States at the time 
states. of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be 
eligible to the office of President; neither 
shall any person be eligible to that office who 
shall not have attained to the age of thirty- 
five years, and been fourteen years a resident 
within the United States. 

Removal of j n case 0 f the removal of the President 
United states, from office, or oi his death, resignation, or m- 
incase. ability to discharge the powers and duties of 
the said office, the same shall devolve on the 
Vice President, and the Congress may by 
law provide for the case of removal, death, 
resignation, or inability, both of the President 
and Vice President, declaring what officer 
shall then act as President, and such officer 
shall act accordingly, until the disability be 
removed, or a President shall be elected. 
President of The President shall, at stated times, re- 
rompensa- 1685 ceive for his services, a compensation, which 
tion. shall neither be increased or diminished dur¬ 

ing the period for which he shall have been 
elected, and he shall not receive within that 
period any other emolument from the United 
States, or any of them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his 
office, he shall take the following oath or af¬ 
firmation :— 

Oath. “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I 

will faithfully execute the office of President 
of the United States, and will, to the best of 


Art. 2.] 


CONSTITUTION. 


15 


my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the 
Constitution of the United States.” 

SECTION H. 

The President shall be commander in chief J > T resi ^ e f lt °f 
of the army and navy of the United States, powers. tate3 
and of the militia of the several States, when 
called into the actual service of the United 
States; he may require the opinion, in writ¬ 
ing of the principal officer in each of the ex¬ 
ecutive departments, upon any subject relat¬ 
ing to the duties of their respective offices; 
and he shall have power to grant reprieves 
and pardons for offences against the United 
States, except in cases of impeachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the ad- ^ e a a k tl e e3 
vice and consent of the Senate, to make trea¬ 
ties, provided two-thirds of the Senators pre¬ 
sent concur; and he shall nominate, and by 
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
shall appoint ambassadors, other public min¬ 
isters, and consuls, judges of the Supreme 
Court, and all other officers of the United Appoint offi- 
States, whose appointments are not herein cers ‘ 
otherwise provided for, and which shall be 
established bylaw: But the Congress may 
by law vest the appointment of such inferior 
officers, as they think proper, in the Presi¬ 
dent alone, in the courts of law, or in the 
heads of departments. 

The President shall have power to fill up Vacancies m 
all vacancies that may happen during the re- 0l ‘ ce ' 
cess of the Senate, by granting commissions 
which shall expire at the end of their next 
session. 


m 


CONSTITUTION,. 


[Ar(. 3L 


President of 
W. States*' 
duties. 


Officers re¬ 
movable by 
impeach¬ 
ments 


Judicial pow¬ 
ers and ten¬ 
ure of judges. 


SECTION III. 

He shall, from time to time, give to the 
Congress information of the state of the Union* 
and recommend to their consideration such 
measures as he shall judge necessary and ex¬ 
pedient ; he may, on extraordinary occasions,, 
convene both Houses, or either of them, and, 
in case of disagreement between them, with 
respect to the time of adjournment, he may 
adjourn them to such time as he shall think 
proper; he shall receive ambassadors and 
other public ministers; he shall take care 
that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall 
commission all the officers of the United 
States. 


SECTION IV. 

The President, Vice President, and alt 
civil officers of the United States, shall be 
removed from office on impeachment for, and 
conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high 
crimes and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE III. 


SECTION I. 

The judicial power of the United States 
shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in 
such inferior courts as the Congress may from 
time to time ordain and establish. The judges, 
both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall 
hold their offices during good behavior, and 
shall, at stated times, receive for their ser¬ 
vices, a compensation, which shall not be di¬ 
minished during their continuance in office. 


Art. 3.] 


CONSTITUTION. 


17 


SECTION II. 

The judicial power shall extend to all cases Judicial P ow- 
in law and equity arising under this Consti- er ’ extens,on ' 
tution, the laws of the United States, and the 
treaties made, or which shall be made, under 
their authority;—to all cases affecting am¬ 
bassadors, other public ministers, and con¬ 
suls ;—to all cases of admiralty and maritime 
jurisdiction;—to controversies to which the 
United States shall be a party ;—to controver¬ 
sies between two or more States ;—between a 
State and citizens of another State ;—between 
citizens of different States;—between citizens 
of the same State claiming lands under grants 
of different States; and between a State, or 
the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citi¬ 
zens, or subjects. 

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other Supreme 
public ministers and consuls, and those in Son. ^ 
which a State shall be a party, the Supreme 
Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all 
the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme 
Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both 
as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and 
under such regulations, as the Congress shall 
make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of Trialsb yj ur 7 
impeachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial 
shall be held in the State where the said 
crimes shall have been committed; but when 
not committed within any State, the trial 
shall be at such place or places as the Con¬ 
gress may by law have directed. 


18 constitution* [Art, 4- 

SECTION III. 

Treason. Treason against the United States shall 

consist only in levying war against them, or 
in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid 
and comfort. No person shall be convicted 
of treason unless on the testimony of two 
witnesses to the same overt act, or on con¬ 
fession in open court. 

Attainder. The Congress shall have powder to declare 
the punishment of treason, but no attainder 
of treason shall work corruption of blood, or 
forfeiture, except during the life of the per" 
son attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

SECTION I. 

Arts of states Full faith and credit shall be given in each 
accredited. g^ e to tbe public acts, records, and judicial 
proceedings, of every other State. And the 
Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the 
manner in which such acts, records, and pro¬ 
ceedings, shall be proved, and the effect 
thereof. 

SECTION II. 

Citizens’ pri- The citizens of each State shall be entitled 
viieges. a n privileges and immunities of citizens in 

the several States. 

Persons A person charged in any State with trea- 

charged with son, felony, or other crime, who shall flee 
cTunes flee- f rom j us ^ cej anc [ be found in another State, 
shall, on demand of the executive authority 
of the State from which he fled, be delivered 
up, to be removed to the State having juris¬ 
diction of the crime. 


CONSTITUTION. 


19 


Art. 5.] 

No person held to service or labor in one 
State under the laws thereof, escaping into 
another, shall, in consequence of any law or 
regulation therein, be discharged from such 
service or labor, but shall be delivered up on 
claim of the party to whom such service or 
labor may be due. 

SECTION III. 

New States may be admitted by the Con¬ 
gress into this Union; but no new State shall 
be formed or erected within the jurisdiction 
of any other State; nor any State be formed 
by the junction of two or more States, or 
parts of States, without the consent of the 
Legislatures of the States concerned, as well 
as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose 
of and make all needful rules and regulations 
respecting the territory or other property be¬ 
longing to the United States; and nothing in 
this Constitution shall be so construed as to 
prejudice any claims of the United States, or 
of any particular State. 

SECTION IV. 

The United States shall guaranty to every 
State in this Union a republican form of gov¬ 
ernment, and shall protect each of them 
against invasion; and on application of the 
Legislature, or of the Executive (when the 
Legislature cannot be convened,) against do¬ 
mestic violence. 

ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both 
Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose 


New States 
admitted. 


Territory of 
U. States. 


Republican 

form. 


Amendm’utsf, 
how attained* 


20 


CONSTITUTION. 


[Art. 6 . 


Debts prior to 
adoption of 
constitution. 


Treaties law 
of land. 


Oath or affir¬ 
mation to 
members. 


amendments to this Constitution, or, on the 
application of the Legislatures of two-thirds 
of the several States, shall call a convention 
for proposing amendments, which, in either 
case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, 
as part of this Constitution, when ratified by 
the Legislatures of three-fourths of the sever¬ 
al States, or by conventions in three-fourths 
thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi¬ 
cation maybe proposed by the Congress; pro¬ 
vided that no amendment which may be made 
prior to the year one thousand eight hundred 
and eight shall, in any manner, affect the first 
and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the 
first article; and that no State, without its con¬ 
sent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in 
the Senate. 


ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements en¬ 
tered into, before the adoption of this Consti¬ 
tution, shall be as valid against the United 
States under this Constitution, as under the 
Confederation. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the Uni¬ 
ted States which shall be made in pursuance 
thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall 
be made, under the authority of the United 
States, shall be the supreme law of the land; 
and the judges in every State shall be bound 
thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws 
of any State to the contrary notwithstand¬ 
ing. 

The Senators and Representatives before- 
mentioned, and the members of the several 
State Legislatures, and all executive and ju¬ 
dicial officers, both of the United States and 


Art. 7 .] 


CONSTITUTION. 


21 


of the several States, shall be bound by oath 
or affirmation, to support this Constitution: 
but no religious test shall ever be required as 
a qualification to any office or public trust un¬ 
der the United States. 


ARTICLE VII. 


The ratification of the conventions of nine Ratification. 
States shall be sufficient for the establishment 
of this Constitution between the States so ra¬ 
tifying the same. 

Done in convention, by the unanimous con¬ 
sent of the States present, the seventeenth 
day of September, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
seven, and of the Independence of the Uni¬ 
ted States of America the twelfth. In wit¬ 
ness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed 
our names. 


Go. WASHINGTON, 

President , and Deputy from Virginia, 


New Hampshire. 


Benjamin Franklin, 
Thomas Mifflin, 
Robert Morris, 
George Clymer, 
Thomas Fitzsimons, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
James Wilson, 
Gouverneur Morris. 


Pennsylvania. 


John Langdon, 
Nicholas Gilman. 


Massachusetts. 


Nathaniel Gorham, 
Rufus King. 


Connecticut. 


William Samuel Johnson. 
Roger Sherman. 


New York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 
New Jersey. 


Delaware. 


William Livingston, 
David Brearley, 
William Paterson, 
Jonathan Dayton. 


George Reed, 
Gunning Bedford, jun 
John Dickinson, 
Richard Basset, 

Jacob Broom. 


22 


CONSTITUTION. 


Maryland. 
James M’Henry, 


Hugh Williamson. 

South Carolina 


Daniel of St. Tho. Jenifer, John Rutledge, 


Daniel Carroll. 

Virginia. 

John Blair, 

James Madison, jr. 

North Carolina . 
William Blount, 

Richard Dobbs Spaight, 
Attest: 


Charles C. Pinckney, 


Charles Pinckney, 
Pierce Butler. 


Georgia. 
William Few, 
Abraham Baldwin. 


WILLIAM JACKSON, 

Secretary. 


IN CONVENTION. 

Monday, September 17, 1787. 

Present —The States of New Hampshire, 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton, 
from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva¬ 
nia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. 
Resolved , That the preceding Constitution 
be laid before the United States in Congress 
assembled, and that it is the opinion of this 
convention, that it should afterwards be sub¬ 
mitted to a convention of delegates, chosen 
in each State by the people thereof, under the 
recommendation of its Legislature, for their 
assent and ratification ; and that each conven¬ 
tion assenting to, and ratifying the same, 
should give notice thereof to the United States 
in Congress assembled. 

Resolved , That it is the opinion of this 
convention, that, as soon as the conventions 
of nine States shall have ratified this Consti¬ 
tution, the United States in Congress assem¬ 
bled should fix a day on which electors should 



CONSTITUTION. 


23 


be appointed by the States which shall have 
ratified the same, and a day on which electors 
should assemble to vote for the President, and 
the time and place for commencing proceed¬ 
ings under this Constitution. That, after such 
publication, the electors should be appointed, 
and the Senators and Representatives elected: 
That the electors should meet on the day fix¬ 
ed for the election of the President, and should 
transmit their votes, certified, signed, sealed 
and directed, as the Constitution requires, to 
the Secretary of the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled; that the Senators and Re¬ 
presentatives should convene at the time and 
place assigned; that the Senators should ap¬ 
point a President of the Senate, for the sole 
purpose of receiving, opening, and counting, 
the votes for President; and that, after he 
shall be chosen, the Congress, together with 
the President, should, without delay, proceed 
to execute this Constitution. 

By the unanimous order of the Convention. 

Go. WASHINGTON, 
President. 

W. Jackson, Secretary. 


IN CONVENTION. 

September 17, 1787. 

Sir : We have now the honor to submit to 
the consideration of the United States in Con¬ 
gress assembled, that Constitution which has 
appeared to us the most advisable. 

The friends of-our country have long seen 
and desired that the power of making war, 



24 


CONSTITUTION. 


peace, and treaties; that of levying money, 
and regulating commerce, and the correspon¬ 
dent executive and judicial authorities, should 
be fully and effectually vested in the General 
Government of the Union ; but the impropri¬ 
ety of delegating such extensive trust to one 
body of men is evident—hence results the 
necessity of a different organization. 

It is obviously impracticable in the Federal 
Government of these States to secure all 
rights of independent sovereignty to each, 
and yet provide for the interest and safety of 
all. Individuals entering into society must 
give up a share of liberty to preserve the rest. 
The magnitude of the sacrifice must depend 
as well on situation and circumstance, as on 
the object to be obtained. It is at all times 
difficult to draw, with precision, the line be¬ 
tween those rights which must be surrender¬ 
ed, and those wdiich may be reserved ; and, 
on the present occasion, this difficulty was 
increased by a difference among the several 
States as to their situation, extent, habits, and 
particular interests. 

In all our deliberations on this subject, we 
kept steadily in our view that which appears 
to us the greatest interest of every true Ameri¬ 
can—the consolidation of our Union, in which 
is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety— 
perhaps our national existence. This impor¬ 
tant consideration, seriously and deeply im¬ 
pressed on our minds, led each State in the 
convention to be less rigid on points of inferior 
magnitude than might have been otherwise 
expected; and thus, the Constitution which we 
now present is the result of a spirit of amity, 
and of that mutual deference and concession 


CONSTITUTION, 


which the peculiarity of our political situation 
rendered indispensable. 

That it will meet the full and entire appro¬ 
bation of every State, is not perhaps to be ex¬ 
pected ; but each will doubtless consider, that, 
had her interest alone been consulted, the con¬ 
sequences might have been particularly dis¬ 
agreeable or injurious to others. That it is 
liable- to as few exceptions as could reason¬ 
ably have been expected, we hope and be¬ 
lieve ; that it may promote the lasting welfare 
of that country so dear to us all, and secure 
her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent 
wish. With great respect, we have the honor 
to be, sir, your excellency’s most obedient 
and humble servants. 

By the unanimous order of the Convention. 
Go. WASHINGTON, President . 

His Excellency the President of Cowgress. 


THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. 

Friday, September 28 , 1787 . 

Present —New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, 
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia; 
and from Maryland, Mr. Ross. 

Congress having received the report of 
the Convention lately assembled in Philadel¬ 
phia, 

Resolved , unanimously , That the said re¬ 
port, with the resolutions and letter accompa¬ 
nying the same, be transmitted to the several 
Legislatures, in order to submit to a conven- 
3 




constitution. [Amend*#. 

tion of delegates, chosen in each State by the 
people thereof, in conformity to the resolves 
of the Convention made and provided in 
that case. 

Charles Thompson, Secretary, 


AMENDMENTS. 

Article the First. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an 
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the 
free exercise thereof; or abridging the free¬ 
dom of speech, or of the press; or the right 
of the people peaceably to assemble, and to 
petition the Government for a redress of 
grievances. 

Article the Second. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to 
the security of a free state, the right of the 
people to keep and bear arms shall not be in¬ 
fringed. 

Article the Third. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quar¬ 
tered in any house without the consent of the 
owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner 
to be prescribed by law. 

Article the Fourth. 

The right of the people to be secure in their 
persons, houses, papers, and effects, against 
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not 
be violated; and no warrants shall issue but 
upon probable cause, supported by oath or 
affirmation, and particularly describing the 
place to be searched, and the persons or things 
to be seized 



Amende.] 


CONSTITUTION. 


■27 


Article the Fifth. 

No person shall be held to answer for a 
capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless 
on a presentment or indictment of a grand 
jury, except in cases arising in the land or 
naval forces, or in the militia when in actual 
service, in time of war or public danger; nor 
shall any person be subject, for the same of¬ 
fence, to be twice put in jeopardy of life or 
limb; nor shall be compelled,in any criminal 
case, to be a witness against himself; nor be 
deprived of life, liberty, or property, with¬ 
out due process of law; nor shall private pro¬ 
perty be taken for public use, without just 
compensation. 

Article the Sixth. 

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused 
shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public 
trial, by an impartial jury of the State and 
district wherein the crime shall have been 
committed, which district shall have been 
previously ascertained by law; and to be in¬ 
formed of the nature and cause of the accu¬ 
sation ; to be confronted with the witnesses 
against him; to have compulsory process for 
obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have 
the assistance of counsel for his defence. 

Article the Seventh . 

In suits at common law, where the value in 
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the 
right of trial by jury shall be preserved; and 
no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re¬ 
examined in any court of the United States, 
than according to the rules of the common law- 


CONSTITUTION. 


[ Amend? s. 


Article the Eighth. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor 
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual 
punishments inflicted. 

Article the Ninth. 

The enumeration in the constitution of cer¬ 
tain rights, shall not be construed to deny or 
disparage others retained by the people. 

Article the Tenth. 

The powers not delegated to the United 
States by the constitution, nor prohibited by 
it to the States, are reserved to the States re¬ 
spectively, or to the people. 

Article the Eleventh. 

The judicial power of the United States 
shall not be construed to extend to any suit, 
in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted 
against one of the United States by citizens 
of another State, or by citizens or subjects of 
any foreign state. 

Article the Twelfth. 

The electors shall meet in their respective 
States, and vote by ballot for President and 
Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall 
not be an inhabitant of the same State with 
themselves. They shall name in their ballots 
the person voted for as President, and, in dis¬ 
tinct ballots, the person voted for as Vice Pre¬ 
sident ; and they shall make distinct lists of 
all persons voted for as President, and of all 
persons voted for as Vice President, and of 


Amend? $.] constitution. 

the number of votes for each; which lists they 
shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to 
the seat of the Government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate. 
The President of the Senate shall, in presence 
of the Senate and House of Representatives, 
open all the certificates, and the votes shall 
then be counted: the person having the great¬ 
est number of votes for President shall be the 
President, if such number be a majority of 
the whole number of electors appointed; and 
if no person have such majority, then, from 
the persons having the highest numbers, not 
exceeding three, on the list of those voted for 
as President, the House of Representatives 
shall choose, immediately, by ballot, the Pre¬ 
sident. But, in choosing the President, the 
votes shall be taken by States, the representa¬ 
tion from each State having one vote: a quo¬ 
rum for this purpose shall consist of a mem¬ 
ber or members from two-thirds of the States, 
and a majority of all the States shall be ne¬ 
cessary to a choice. And if the House of 
Representatives shall not choose a President 
whenever the right of choice shall devolve 
upon them, before the fourth day of March 
next following, then the Vice President shall 
act as President, as in the case of the death, 
or other constitutional disability of the Pre¬ 
sident. 

The person having the greatest number of 
votes as Vice President shall be the Vice 
President, if such number be a majority of the 
whole number of electors appointed; and if no 
person have a majority, then, from the two 
highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall 


constitution. [Amend’s. 

choose the Vice President: a quorum for the 
purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the 
whole number of Senators, and a majority of 
the whole number shall be necessary to a 
choice. 

But no person constitutionally ineligible to 
the office of President, shall be eligible to that 
of Vice President of the United States. 


INDEX 


TO TBX 

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 


A, 


Art. Sec. Page. 

Acts, records, and judicial proceedings of each State, 

entitled to with and credit in other States - 4 1 18 

Amendments to the Constitution, how made, - - 5 1 19, 20 

Appropriations by law .—Sec Treasury. - - - 1 9 11 

Attainder , bill of, prohibited * - - -1911 

Attainder of treason shall not work corruption of blood 
or forfeiture, except during the life of the 
person attainted - - - 3 3 18 

B. 

Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 

Representatives - - - - - 1 7 7 

before they become laws, shall be passed by both 
Houses, and approved by the President; or, if 
disapproved, shall be passed by two-thirds of each 

House.- 1 7 7,8 

not returned in ten days, unless an adjournment in¬ 
tervene, shall be considered as approved - 1 7 8 

C. 

Capitation tax. —See Tax. - - - - 1 9 11 

Census , or enumeration, to be made every ten years - 1 2 4 

Claims of the United States, or of the several States, not 
to be prejudiced by any construction of the 
Constitution - - - - - 4 3 19 

Citizens of each State shall be entitled to the privileges 

and immunities of citizens in the several States 4 2 18 

Commerce , regulations respecting, to be equal and uni¬ 
form - - - * .19 11 



32 


Index to the Constitution. 


Art, 

Congress , vested with legislative power * - - 1 

may alter the regulations of State Legislatures 
concerning the elections of Senators and 
Representatives, except as to place of choos¬ 
ing Senators - - - - 1 

shall assemble once every year - - 1 

may provide for cases of removal of President 
and Vice President - - - -2 

may determine the time of choosing electors 
of President and Vice President - - 2 

may invest the appointment of inferior officers 
in the President alone, in the courts of law, 
or the heads of departments - - 2 

may, from time to time, establish courts in¬ 
ferior to the Supreme Court - - 3 

may (with one limitation) declare the punish¬ 
ment of treason - - - - 3 

may prescribe the manner of proving the acts, 
records, and judicial proceedings of each 
State - - - - -4 

the assent of, required to the formation of a 
new State within the jurisdiction of any 
other, or by the junction of two or more - 4 
may propose amendments to the Constitution, 
or, on application, call a convention - 5 
the assent of, required to the admission of 
new States into the Union - - - 4 

powers of— 

to lay and collect duties on imposts and ex¬ 
cises - - - - - 1 

to borrow money - - - - 1 

to regulate commerce - - - 1 

to establish uniform laws of bankruptcy and 
naturalization - - - - 1 

to coin money, regulate the value of coin, and 
fix a standard of weights and measures - 1 

to punish counterfeiting - - - 1 

to establish post offices and post roads - 1 

to authorize patents to authors and inventors 1 
to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme 
Court - - - - - 1 

to define and punish piracies, felonies on the 
high seas, and offences against the laws of 
nations - - - - - 1 

to declare war, grant letters of marque, and 
make rules concerning captures, - - 1 

to raise and support armies, - - - 1 

to provide and maintain a navy, - - 1 


Sec. Fare. 
1 3 


4 6 

4 6 

1 14 

1 12 


2 15 
1 16 

3 18 


1 18 


3 19 

1 19 

3 19 


8 8 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 

8 9 


8 9 

8 
8 
8 


VO VO VO 


Index to the Constitution. 


33 


Congress , powers of— 

to make rules for the government of the army 
and navy, - 

to call for the militia in certain cases, - 
to organize, arm, and discipline militia, 
to exercise exclusive legislation over ten miles 
square, - 

to pass laws necessary to carry the enumera¬ 
ted powers into effect, - 
to dispose of, and make rules concerning the 
territory or other property of the United 
States, - 

Constitution , formed by the people of the U. S. Preamble , 
how amended, - 

and the laws under it, and treaties, declar¬ 
ed to be the supreme law, 
rendered operative by the ratification of the 
conventions of nine States, 

Conventions , for proposing amendments to Constitution, 

Court , Supreme, its original and appellate jurisdiction, 

CourtSt inferior to the Supreme Court, may be ordained 
by Congress, - 

Crimes , persons accused of, fleeing from justice, maybe 
demanded, - 


Art. See. Page. 


18 9 

18 9 

18 10 

18 10 

18 10 


4 3 39 

5 , ,} 

6 1 20 

7 1 21 

5 1 20 

12 17 

3 1 16 

4 2 18 


D. 

Debts , against the Confederation, to be valid against the 

United States, under this Constitution, - 6 1 20 

Duties , on exports prohibited, - - - - 1 9 11 

on imports and exports, imposed by States, shall 

enure to the Treasury of the United States, - 1 10 12 


E. 


Elections , of Senators and Representatives, shall be pre¬ 
scribed by the State Legislatures, as to time, 
place, and manner, - - - 1 4 6 

qualifications and returns of members of Con¬ 
gress, to be determined by each House, - 1 5 6 

Electors , of President and Vice President, how chosen, 

and their duties, - - - - 2 1 12,13 

and 12th Amendment 
shall vote the same day throughout the United 

States, - - - - - 2 1 12 

no Senator or Representative holding office un¬ 
der the United States, shall serve as, - 2 1 12 

Enumeration. —See Census , - - - - 1 2 4 


34 


Index to the Constitution. 


Art. Sec. Page. 

Executive power shall be vested in a President.—See 

President , - - - - 2 1 12 

Exports. —See Tax. 

and imports, duties on by States to be payable 

into the Treasury of the United States, - 1 10 12 

Ex post facto law, none shall be passed, - - 1 9 11 

H. 

Habeas corpus , writ of, can only be suspended in cases 

of rebellion or invasion, - - 1 9 11 

House of Representatives. —See Representatives. 

House. —See Senate. 

I. 

Impeachment, all civil officers liable to, - - - 2 4 16 

persons found guilty by, liable to indict¬ 
ment, and punishment for the offence, 13 5 

Importation of Slaves , until prohibited, a duty authorized 

on, after 1808, - - - 1 9 10 

J. 

Judges , shall hold their offices during good behavior, - 3 1 16 

the compensations of, shall not be diminished 
during continuance in office, - - - 3 1 16 

Judicial power , vested in a Supreme Court, and courts 

inferior, - - - -31 16 

the cases to which it extends, - - 3 2 17 

Judicial proceedings , records and acts of each State, are 
entitled to faith and credit in 
every other State, - - 4 1 18 

Jury trial shall be held in the State where the crime shall 

have been committed, - - - 3 2 17 

if the crime have not been committed within a 
State, the trial shall be held at the place 
Congress shall have directed, - - 3 2 17 

Jury , trial by, secured , in prosecutions for all crimes , ex¬ 
cept in cases of impeachment, - - - 3 2 17 

and in suits at common law, where the value in 
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, 7th 
Amendment, ..... 27 

L. 

Law , Supreme, the Constitution, the laws under it, and 

treaties declared to be, - - - - 6 1 20 

Legislative powers , vested in Congress.—See Congress, - 1 1 3 


Index to the Constitution. 


35 


M. 


Art. Sec. Page. 

Money shall be drawn from the Treasury only by laws 

appropriating’, - - - - 1 9 11 

N. 

Nobility, titles of, shall not be granted by the United 

States, - - - - -19 11 

O. 

Officers of the Senate, except their President, shall be 
chosen by the Senate, - 
civil, may be removed by impeachment, - 
Order of one House requiring the concurrence of the 
other.—See Resolution , - 

P. 

Persons held to labor or service, their importation or mi¬ 
gration into the United States may be prohib¬ 
ited after 1808, - - - - 1 9 10 

escaping from one State to another, shall be de¬ 
livered up to those entitled to service -42 19 

Powers , not delegated, are reserved to the people, or, 
when not prohibited, to the States, 10th 
Amendment, - - - 28 

Legislative.—See Congress , - - - 1 1 3 

Executive.—See President , - - - 2 1 12 

Judicial.—See Judicial, - - - 3 1 16 

Presents, emoluments, office, or title, from a foreign 
king, prince, or state, to persons holding 
offices of profit or trust, prohibited, - 1 

President of the U. S. vested with the executive power, 2 
shall be chosen for four years, - 2 
how elected, - - - 2 

qualifications for, - - - 2 

compensation of, - - - 2 

shall take an oath of office, - 2 

may be removed by impeachment, 2 
President of the United States, powers of—- 

shall be commander in chief of army and navy, 2 2 15 

may require the written opinions of the heads 

of departments, - - - -2215 

may reprieve and pardon, - - - 2 2 15 

may make treaties with consent of the Senate, 2 2 15 
may appoint to office, with the consent of the 

Senate, - - - - -22 15 

shall fill up vacancies happening during the 

recess of the Senate, - - - 2 2 15 


9 11 

1 12 
1 12 
1 12 
1 14 

1 14 

1 14 

4 16 


13 5 

2 4 16 

17 8 


36 


Index to the Constitution . 


President of the United States, duties of— 

shall give information to Congress, and recom¬ 
mend measures, - 

may convene both Houses, or either House, - 
may adjourn them in case of disagreement, - 
shall receive ambassadors and public ministers, 
shall take care that the laws be faithfully exe¬ 
cuted, - 

shall commission all officers of the United 
States, - 

in case of death, &c., shall devolve on the 
Vice President, and on such other officer as 
may be provided by law, - 
Privileges and immunities of citizens of States.—See Citi- 


Art. 


2 

2 

2 

2 

2 

2 


2 


zens. 


Property shall not be taken for public use, without just 
compensation ; 5th Amendment, 


Q. 


Quorum, what shall be, for business, - - - 1 

of States, in choosing a President by the House 
of Representatives, - - - - 2 

R. 

Receipts and expenditures, accounts of, to be published 1 
Records. —See Judicial Proceedings. - - - 4 

Representatives, House of, composed of members chosen 

every second year - - - 1 

qualifications of the electors of its mem¬ 
bers - - - - - 1 

qualifications of members - - 1 

shall not exceed one for thirty thousand 1 
shall choose their Speaker and other 
officers - - - - 1 

shall have the power of impeachment - 1 

shall be the judge of the returns, elec¬ 
tions, and qualifications of its members 1 
what shall be a quorum of - - 1 

any number may adjourn, and compel 
the attendance of absentees - - 1 

may determine the rules of proceeding, 1 
may punish or expel a member - - 1 

shall keep a journal, and publish the 
same, except the parts requiring se¬ 
crecy - - - - - 1 

shall not adjourn for more than three 
days, nor to any other place, without 
the consent of the Senate - - 1 


Sec. Page, 


3 16 

3 16 

3 16 

3 16 

3 16 

3 16 


1 14 


27 


5 6 

1 13 


9 11 

1 18 

2 3 

2 3 

2 3 

2 4 

2 4 

2 4 

5 6 

5 6 

5 6 

5 6 

5 6 


5 6 


5 6,7 


Index to the Constitution. 


Si 


Representatives, House of, one-fifth of present may re¬ 
quire the yeas and nays - 
shall originate bills for raising revenue 
shall receive a compensation, to be as¬ 
certained by law 
privileged from arrest during attend¬ 
ance, and in going and returning, 
except in certain cases 
shall not be questioned elsewhere for 
any speech or debate in the House - 
shall not be appointed to the offices cre¬ 
ated, or whose compensations shall 
have been increased, during the time 
for which they are elected - 
can, whilst serving, hold no office under 
the United States - 
shall not serve as primary electors of 
President 

Representatives and direct taxes apportioned according 
to numbers - 

Representation of a State, vacancies in, supplied until a 
new election by the Executive authority 
thereof - 

Resolution , order, or vote, requiring the concurrence of 
both Houses, [except for an adjournment,] 
shall be presented to the President, and 
undergo the formalities of bills 

Revenue .—See Vessels. 

Rights of the citizen declared to be— 

liberty of conscience in matters of religion. 


Art. Sec. Page. 


- 1 6 

6 
6 


6 

6 

1 

2 


- 2 


1 2 


1 7 


6 

7 


7 

7 

7 

7 

12 


Amendment - 

1 

26 

freedom of speech and of the press 

1 

26 

to assemble and petition - 

1 

26 

to keep and bear arms ... 

2 

26 

to be exempt from the quartering of sol¬ 
diers, in any house, in time of peace, 
without the consent of the owner, and 
in time of war, unless prescribed bylaw 

3 

26 

to be secure from unreasonable searches 
and seizures - 

4 

26 

to be free, except in the army, navy, and 
militia, from answering for a capital or 
otherwise infamous crime, unless on pre¬ 
sentment or indictment of a grand jury 

5 

26, 27 

not to be twice jeopardized for the same 
offence - - - 

5 

27 

nor to be compelled, in criminal cases, to 
be a witness against himself 

5 

27 


4 




38 Index to the Constitution. 


Rights of the citizen declared to be— 

not to be deprived of life, liberty, or pro¬ 
perty, without due course of law 
private property shall not be taken for 
public use without just compensation - 
that the accused, in criminal prosecutions, 
shall enjoy the right of a speedy public 
trial by an impartial jury of the vicinage, 
and the means necessary for his defence 
that, in civil cases, facts tried by a jury 
shall only be re-examined according to 
the rules of the common law 
that, in suits at common law, where the 
value shall exceed twenty dollars, the 
right of trial by jury shall be preserved 
that excessive bail shall not be required, 
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or 
unusual punishments inflicted - 
that the enumeration of certain rights shall 
not operate constructively against the 
retained rights ... 

Rules , each House shall determine its own 


Amend. Page. 


5 

2 7 

5 

27 

6 

27 

7 

27 

7 

27 

8 

27 

9 

Art. 

28 

Sec. Page. 


15 6 


S. 

Senate of the United States , composed of two Senators 

from each State - - 1 3 4 

how chosen, classed, and terms 

of service - - - 1 3 4,5 

qualifications of members, thirty 
years of age, nine years a citi¬ 
zen, and an inhabitant of the 
State - - - - 1 3 4 

shall choose their officers, except 
the President - - - 1 3 5 

shall be the judge of the elec¬ 
tions, returns, and qualifica¬ 
tions of its members - - 1 5 

what number shall be a quorum - 1 5 

any number may adjourn, and 

compel attendance of absentees 1 5 

may determine its rules - -15 

may punish or expel a member - 1 5 

shall keep a journal, and publish 
the same, except parts requir¬ 
ing secrecy - - - 1 5 6 


to to o to to 


Index to the Constitution. 


39 


Senate of the United States — 

shall not adjourn for more than 
three days, nor to any other 
place, without the consent of 
the other House 

one-fifth of present may require 
the yeas and nays 
may propose amendments to bills 
for raising 1 revenue 
shall try impeachments - 
their j udgments only to extend to 
removal from office, and to dis¬ 
qualify for any other - 
members of, shall receive a com¬ 
pensation to be ascertained by 
law .... 
privileged from arrest 
shall not be questioned elsewhere 
for any speech or debate in the 
House - 

shall not be appointed to offices 
of the United States, created, 
or whose emoluments shall 
have been increased during the 
terms for which they were 
elected ... 

Senators and Representatives , elections of, how prescribed 
Senator shall not be an elector of President 
Slaves. —See Persons held to service. 

Speaker , how chosen ..... 
States prohibited from 

entering into any treaty, alliance, or confede¬ 
ration ..... 

granting letters of marque - - - 

coining money ----- 
emitting bills of credit - 

making any thing a tender but gold and silver 
coin ------ 

passing bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, or 
laws impairing contracts ... 
granting titles of nobility - - - 

laying impost, or duties on imports and exports 
for their own use - - 

laying duties on tonnage without the consent 
of Congress - - - - - 

keeping troops, or ships of war, in time of 
peace • 

entering into any agreement or contract with 
another State, or a foreig-n power - 


Art. Sec. Page. 


15 6,7 

15 6 

1 7 7 

13 5 


13 5 


1 6 7 

16 7 


1 6 7 


16 7 

14 6 

2 1 12 

12 4 


1 10 11 
1 10 11 
1 10 11 
1 10 11 

1 10 11 

1 10 11 
1 10 12 

1 10 12 

1 10 12 

1 10 12 

1 10 12 


40 


Index to the Constitution. 


States prohibited from 

engaging in war, unless invaded, or in immi¬ 
nent danger - 

States, new, may be admitted into the Union 

may be formed within the jurisdiction of oth¬ 
ers, or by the junction of two or more, with 
the consent of Congress and the Legislatures 
concerned - 

States, Judges of, bound to consider treaties, the consti¬ 
tution, and the laws under it, as supreme, - 

States, majority of all, necessary to the choice of Presi¬ 
dent ------ 

State, each, to be guarantied a republican form of gov¬ 
ernment ; protected against invasion ; and 
secured, upon application, against domestic 
violence - 

Supreme Court .—See Court. 


Art. Sec. Page- 


1 10 12 

4 3 19 

4 3 19- 

6 1 20 

2 1 13 

4 4 19 


T. 


Tax, capitation or direct, shall be laid only in propor¬ 
tion to census - - - - - 1 9 

Tax , on exports from a State, prohibited - - 1 9 

Taxes, direct, shall be apportioned according to repre¬ 
sentation - - - - - 1 2 

Territory, or property belonging to the United States, 

Congress may make rules concerning - 4 3 

Test, religious, shall not be required - - - 7 

Titles. —See Nobility. - - - - - 1 9 

Title, from foreign state.—See Present. - - 1 9 

Treason, defined - - - - - -33 

two witnesses, or confession, necessary for con¬ 
viction - - - - - 3 3 

punishment of, may be prescribed by Congress, 

with one limitation - - - - 3 3 

Treason, or other crime, persons charged with in one 
State, fleeing into another, shall, on demand, 

be delivered up - - - - 4 2 

Treasury, money drawn from only by appropriation, - 1 9 

Treaties, the supreme law - - - - 6 1 


11 

11 


19 

21 

21 

11 

18 

18 

18 


18 

11 

20 


y. 


Vacancies happening during the recess of the Senate 

may be filled temporarily by the President 2 2 15 

in representation in Congress, how filled - 1 2 4 


Index to the Constitution. 


41 


Art. Sec. Page. 

Vessels to enter, clear, and pay duties in the States in 

which they arrive, or from which they depart - 1 9 11 

Vice President of the United States , 

to be President of the Senate, except 
when exercising 1 the office of President 
of the United States - - - 1 3 5 

how elected - - - - 2 1 13 

and 12th amendment. 

qualifications for, 12th amendment - 30 

shall, in certain cases, discharge the du¬ 
ties of President - - - 2 1 14 

may be removed by impeachment - 2 4 16 

Vote of one House, requiring concurrence of the other.— 

See Resolution. - - - 1 7 8 

\V. 

Warrants for searches and seizures, when and how they 

26 

to be 

27 


shall issue, 4th amendment - 
Witness , in criminal cases, no one compelled 
against himself, 5th amendment 


4 * 




t 




RULES 


FOR 

CONDUCTING BUSINESS 

Iff THE 


SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES- 







CONDUCTING BUSINESS 


Ilf THE 

SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 


1. The President having taken the chair, and a quo¬ 
rum being present, the journal of the preceding day 
shall be read, to the end that any mistake may be cor¬ 
rected that shall be made in the entries. 

2. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise 
interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any news¬ 
paper, while the journals or public papers are reading, 
or when any member is speaking in any debate. 

3. Every member when he speaks, shall address the 
Chair, standing in his place, and, when he has finished, 
shall sit down. 

4. No member shall speak more than twice, in any 
one debate, on the same day, without leave of the 
Senate. 

5. When two members rise at the same time, the 
President shall name the person to speak; but in all 
cases the member who shall first rise and address the 
Chair shall speak first. 

6. When a member shall be called to order by the 
President, or a Senator, he shall sit dow T n; and every 
question out of order shall be decided by the President 
without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate; and 
the President may call for the sense of the Senate on 
any question of order. 

7. If the member be called to order by a Senator for 
words spoken, the exceptionable words shall imme¬ 
diately be taken down in writing, that the President 
may be better enabled to judge of the matter. 



46 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


8. No member shall absent himself from the service 
of the Senate, without leave of the Senate first obtain¬ 
ed. And, in case a less number than a quorum of the 
Senate shall convene, they are hereby authorized to 
send the Sergeant-at-arms, or any other person or per¬ 
sons by them authorized, for any or all absent members, 
as the majority of such members present shall agree, 
at the expense of such absent members, respectively, 
unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be made 
as the Senate, when a quorum is convened, shall judge 
sufficient; and, in that case, the expense shall be paid 
out of the contingent fund. And this rule shall apply 
as well to the first convention of the Senate at the le¬ 
gal time of meeting, as to each day of the session, after 
the hour has arrived to which the Senate stood ad¬ 
journed. 

9. No motion shall be debated until the same shall 
be seconded. 

10. When a motion shall be made and seconded, it 
shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the President, 
or any member, delivered in at the table, and read, be¬ 
fore the same shall be debated. 

11. When a question is under debate, no motion 
shall be received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, to 
postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to 
commit, or to amend ; which several motions shall have 
precedence in the order they stand arranged, and the 
motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and 
be decided without debate. 

12. If the question in debate contain several points, 
any member may have the same divided : but, on a mo¬ 
tion to strike out and insert, it shall not be in order to 
move for a division of the question : but the rejection 
of a motion to strike out and insert one proposition shall 
not prevent a motion to strike out and insert a different 
proposition; nor prevent a subsequent motion, simply 
to strike out: nor shall the rejection of a motion simply 
to strike out prevent a subsequent motion to strike out 
and insert. 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


47 


13. In filling up blanks, the largest sura and longest 
time shall be first put. 

14. When the reading of a paper is called for, and 
the same is objected to by any member, it shall be de¬ 
termined by a vote of the Senate, and without debate. 

15. The unfinished business in which the Senate 
was engaged at the last preceding adjournment, shall 
have the preference in the special orders of the day. 

16. When the yeas and nays shall be called for by 
one-fifth of the members present, each member called 
upon shall, unless for special reason he be excused by 
the Senate, declare openly, and without debate, his as¬ 
sent or dissent to the question. In taking the yeas and 
nays, and upon the call of the House, the names of the 
members shall be taken alphabetically. 

17. When the yeas and nays shall be taken upon any 
question, in pursuance of the above rule, no member 
shall be permitted, under any circumstances whatever, 
to vote after the decision is announced from the Chair. 

18. On a motion made and seconded to shut the 
doors of the Senate, on the discussion of any business 
which may, in the opinion of a member, require secre¬ 
cy, the President shall direct the gallery to be cleared ; 
and, during the discussion of such motion, the doors 
shall remain shut. 

19. No motion shall be deemed in order, to admit 
any person or persons whatsoever within the doors of 
the Senate chamber to present any petition, memorial, 
or address, or to hear any such read. 

20. When a question has been once made and car¬ 
ried in the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order 
for any member of the majority to move for the recon¬ 
sideration thereof: but no motion for the reconsidera¬ 
tion of any vote shall be in order after a bill, resolution, s 
message, report, amendment, or motion, upon which 
the vote was taken, shall have gone out of the posses¬ 
sion of the Senate, announcing their decision; nor 
shall any motion for reconsideration be in order, unless 



8 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


made on the same day on which the vote was taken, or 
within the two next days of actual session of the Sen¬ 
ate thereafter. 

21. When the Senate are equally divided, the Sec¬ 
retary shall take the decision of the President. 

22. All questions shall be put by the President of 
"7 the Senate, either in the presence or absence of the 

President of the United States, and the Senators shall 
signify their assent or dissent, by answering, ay or no. 

23. The Vice President, or President of the Senate 
pro tempore, shall have the right to name a member to 
perform the duties of the Chair; but such substitution 
shall not extend beyond an adjournment. 

24. After the journal is read, the President shall first 
call for petitions, and then for reports from standing 
committees; and every petition or memorial, or other 
paper, shall be referred of course, without putting a 
question for that purpose, unless the reference is ob¬ 
jected to by a member at the time such petition, memo¬ 
rial, or other paper, is presented. And before any pe¬ 
tition or memorial, addressed to the Senate, shall be 
received and read at the table, whether the same shall 
be introduced by the President or a member, a brief 
statement of the contents of the petition or memorial 
shall verbally be made by the introducer. 

25. One day’s notice, at least, shall be given of an 
intended motion for leave to bring in a bill; and all bills 
reported by a committee, shall, after the first reading, 
be printed for the use of the Senate: but no other pa¬ 
per or document shall be printed for the use of the 
Senate, without special order. 

26. Every bill shall receive three readings previous 
to its being passed ; and the President shall give notice 
at each, whether it be the first, second, or third ; which 
readings shall be on three different days, unless the 
Senate unanimously direct otherwise. And all resolu¬ 
tions proposing amendments to the Constitution, or to 
which the approbation and signature of the President 


■RULES OF THE SENATE. 


49 


may be requisite, or which may grant money out of 
the contingent, or any other fund, shall be treated, in all 
respects, in the introduction and form of proceedings 
on them, in the Senate, in a similar manner with bills: 
and all other resolutions shall lie on the table one day 
for consideration, and also reports of committees. 

27. No bill shall be committed or amended until it 
shall have been twice read, after which it may be re¬ 
ferred to a committee. 

28. All bills on a second reading shall first be con¬ 
sidered by the Senate in the same manner as if the 
Senate were in committee of the whole, before they 
shall be taken up and proceeded on by the Senate agree¬ 
ably to the standing rules, unless otherwise ordered. 
And when the Senate shall consider a treaty, bill, or 
resolution, as in committee of the whole, the Vice Pre¬ 
sident, or President pro tempore, may call a member 
to fill the chair, during the time the Senate shall remain 
in committee of the whole : and the chairman so called 
shall, during such time, have the powers of a President 
pro tempore. 

29. The final question, upon the second reading of 
<every bill, resolution, constitutional amendment, or mo¬ 
tion, originating in the Senate, and requiring three 
readings previous to being passed, shall be, “Whether 
it shall be engrossed and read a third time ?” and no 
amendment shall be received for discussion at the third 
reading of any bill, resolution, amendment, or motion, 
unless by unanimous consent of the members present: 
but it shall at all times be in order, before the final pas¬ 
sage of any such bill, resolution, constitutional amend¬ 
ment, or motion, to move its commitment; and should 
such commitment take place, and any amendment be re¬ 
ported by the committee, the said bill, resolution, consti¬ 
tutional amendment, or motion, shall be again read a se¬ 
cond time, and considered as in committee of the whole, 
and then the aforesaid question shall be again put. 

30. The special orders of the day shall not be called 

5 


50 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


by the Chair before one o’clock, unless otherwise di¬ 
rected by the Senate. 

31. The titles of bills, and such parts thereof only 
as shall be affected by proposed amendments, shall be 
inserted on the journals. 

32. The proceedings of the Senate, when not acting 
as in committee of the whole, shall be entered on the 
journal as concisely as possible, care being taken to de¬ 
tail a true and accurate account of the proceedingsV but 
every vote of the Senate shall be entered on the journal, 
and a brief statement of the contents of each petition, 
memorial, or paper, presented to the Senate, shall also 
be inserted on the journal. 

33. The following Standing Committees, to consist 
of five members each, shall be appointed at the com¬ 
mencement of each session, with leave to report by bill 
or otherwise : 

A Committee on Foreign Relations. 

A Committee on Finance. 

A Committee on Commerce. 

A Committee on Manufactures. 

A Committee on Agriculture. 

A Committee on Military Affairs. 

A Committee on the Militia. 

A Committee on Naval Affairs. 

A Committee on Public Lands. 

A Committee on Private Land Claims. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs. 

A Committee of Claims. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims. 

A Committee on the Judiciary. 

A Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. 

A Committee on Roads and Canals. 

A Committee on Pensions. 

A Committee on the District of Columbia. 

A Committee of three members, whose duty it shall 
be to audit and control the contingent expenses of the 
Senate. 


RULES OF THE SENATE, 


51 


And a Committee, consisting of three members, whose 
duty it shall be to examine all bills, amendments, resolu¬ 
tions, or motions, before they go out of possession of the 
Senate, and shall deliver the same to the Secretary of 
the Senate, who shall enter upon the journal that the 
same has been correctly engrossed. 

34. In the appointment of the Standing Committees 
the Senate will proceed by ballot, severally, to appoint 
the chairman of each committee, and then, by one bal¬ 
lot, the other members necessary to complete the same ; 
and a majority of the whole number of votes given, shall 
be necessary to the choice of a chairman of a standing 
committee. All other committees shall be appointed 
by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall make a choice. 
When any subject or matter shall have been referred to 
a committee, any other subject or matter of a similar 
nature, may, on motion, be referred to such committee. 

35. When motions are made for reference of the 
same subject to a select committee, and to a standing 
committee, the question on reference to the standing 
committee shall be first put. 

36. When nominations shall be made in writing by 
the President of the United States to the Senate, a fu¬ 
ture day shall be assigned, unless the Senate unani¬ 
mously direct otherwise, for taking them into considera¬ 
tion. When the President of the United States shall 
meet the Senate in the Senate Chamber, the President 
of the Senate shall have a chair on the floor, be con¬ 
sidered as the head of the Senate, and his chair shall be 
assigned to the President of the United States. When 
the Senate shall be convened by the President of the 
United States to any other place, the President of the 
Senate and Senators shall attend at the place appointed. 
The Secretary of the Senate shall also attend to take 
the minutes of the Senate. 

37. Whenever a treaty shall be laid before the Se¬ 
nate for ratification, it shall be read a fiist time for in¬ 
formation only; when no motion to reject, ratify, or 


52 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


modify, the whole, or any part, shall be received. Its 
second reading shall be for consideration, and on a sub¬ 
sequent day ; when it shall be taken up as in committee 
of the whole, and every one shall be free to move a 
question on any particular article, in this form: “Will 
the Senate advise and consent to the ratification of this 
article r” or to propose amendments thereto, either by 
inserting or by leaving out words; in w hich last case, 
the question shall be, u Shall these words stand as part 
of the article ?” And in every of the said cases, the con¬ 
currence of two-thirds of the Senators present shall be 
requisite to decide affirmatively. And when through 
the whole, the proceedings shall be stated to the House, 
and questions shall be again severally put thereon for 
confirmation, or new ones proposed, requiring, in like 
manner, a concurrence of two-thirds, for whatever is 
retained or inserted; the votes so confirmed shall, by 
the House, or a committee thereof, be reduced into the 
form of a ratification, with or without modifications, as 
may have been decided, and shall be proposed on a 
subsequent day, when every one shall again be free to 
move amendments, either by inserting or leaving out 
words; in which last case, the question shall be, “ Shall 
these words stand as part of the resolution?” And in 
both cases, the concurrence of two-thirds shall be re¬ 
quisite to carry the affirmative, as w^ell as, on the final 
question, to advise and consent to the ratification in the 
form agreed to. 

38. All confidential communications, made by the 
President of the United States to the Senate, shall be 
by the members thereof kept secret; and all treaties 
which may be laid before the Senate shall also be kept 
secret, until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take 
off the injunction of secrecy. 

39. All information or remarks, touching or con¬ 
cerning the character or qualifications of any person no¬ 
minated by the President to office, shall be kept secret. 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


53 


40. When acting on confidential or executive busi¬ 
ness, the Senate shall be cleared of all persons, except 
the secretary, the principal or the executive clerk, the 
sergeant-at-arms and doorkeeper, and the assistant door¬ 
keeper. 

41. The legislative proceedings, the executive pro¬ 
ceedings, and the confidential legislative proceedings, 
of the Senate, shall be kept in separate and distinct 
books. 

42 . The President of the United States shall, from 
time to time, be furnished with an authenticated trans¬ 
script of the executive records of the Senate; and all 
nominations approved, or definitively acted on by the 
Senate, shall be returned by the Secretary from day to 
day, as such proceedings may occur; but no further ex¬ 
tract from the executive journal shall be furnished, ex¬ 
cept by special order; and no paper, except original 
treaties transmitted to the Senate by the President of 
the United States, or any executive officer, shall be re¬ 
turned or delivered from the office of the Secretary, 
without an order of the Senate for that purpose. 

43. When an amendment to be proposed to the Con¬ 
stitution is under consideration, the concurrence of two- 
thirds of the members present shall not be requisite to 
decide any question for amendments, or extending to 
the merits, being short of the final question. 

44. When any question may have been decided by 
the Senate, in which two-thirds of the members present 
are necessary to carry the affirmative, any member who 
votes on that side which prevailed in the question may 
be at liberty to move for a reconsideration; and a mo¬ 
tion for reconsideration shall be decided by a majority 
of votes. 

45. Messages shall be sent to the House of Repre¬ 
sentatives by the Secretary, who shall previously en¬ 
dorse the final determination of the Senate thereon. 

46. Messengers are introduced in any state of busi- 

5 * 


54 


RULES OF THE SENATE. 


ness, except while a question is putting, while the yea.? 
and nays are calling, or while the ballots are countings 

47. The reporters shall be placed on the floor of the 
Senate, under the direction of the secretary. 

No person, except members of the House of Repre¬ 
sentatives, their clerk, Heads of Departments, Trea¬ 
surer, Comptrollers, Register, Auditors, Postmaster 
General, President’s secretary, Chaplains to Congress, 
Judges of the United States, Foreign Ministers and their 
secretaries, officers who, by name, have received or 
shall hereafter receive, the thanks of Congress for their 
gallantry and good conduct displayed in the service of 
their country, the Commissioners of the Navy Board, 
Governor, for the time being, of any State or Territory 
of the Union, such gentlemen as have been Heads of 
Departments or members of either branch of the Legis¬ 
lature, and, at the discretion of the President of the Se¬ 
nate, persons who belong to such Legislatures of foreign 
Governments as are in amity with the United States, 
shall be admitted on the floor of the Senate. 

48. The presiding officer of the Senate shall have 
the regulation of such parts of the Capitol and of its 
passages, as are or may be set apart for the use of the 
Senate and its officers. 

49. The Secretary of the Senate, the sergeant-at- 
arms and doorkeeper, and the assistant doorkeeper, 
shall be chosen on the second Monday of the first ses¬ 
sion of the 21st Congress, and on the same day of the 
first session of every succeeding Congress. 


JOINT RULES 


OF 


THE TWO HOUSES- 
























• I 









































I 





































* 


O 


<1 

9 


O 


«> < 






JOINT RULES 


S? 


OF 

THE TWO HOUSES. 


1. In every case of an amendment of a bill agreed 
to in one House, and dissented to in the other, if either 
House shall request a conference, and appoint a com¬ 
mittee for that purpose, and the other House shall also 
appoint a committee to confer, such committees shall, 
at a convenient hour, to be agreed on by their chairman, 
meet in the conference chamber, and state to each other 
verbally, or in writing, as either shall choose, the rea¬ 
sons of their respective Houses for and against the 
amendment, and confer freely thereon. 

2 . When a message shall be sent from the Senate 
to the House of Representatives, it shall be announced 
at the door of the House by the doorkeeper, and shall 
be respectfully communicated to the Chair, by the per¬ 
son by whom it may be sent. 

3. The same ceremony shall be observed when a 
message shall be sent from the House of Representa¬ 
tives to the Senate. 

4. Messages shall be sent by such persons as a sense 
of propriety in each House may determine to be proper. 

5. While bills are on their passage between the two 
Houses, they shall be on paper, and under the signa¬ 
ture of the Secretary or Clerk of each House, respec¬ 
tively. 

6. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it shall 
be duly enrolled on parchment, by the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives, or the Secretary of the Sen¬ 
ate, as the bill may have originated in the one or the 
other House, before it shall be presented to the Presi¬ 
dent of the United States. 



58 


JOINT RULES 


7. When bills are enrolled, they shall be examined 
by a joint committee of two from the Senate, and two 
from the House of Representatives, appointed as a 
standing committee for that purpose, who shall care¬ 
fully compare the enrolment with the engrossed bills 
as passed in the two Houses, and correcting any errors 
that may be discovered in the enrolled bills, make their 
report forthwith to their respective Houses. 

8. After examination and report, each bill shall be 
signed in the respective Houses, first by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, then by the President of 
the Senate. 

9. After a bill shall have been thus signed in each 
House, it shall be presented by the said committee to 
the President of the United States for his approbation, 
it being first endorsed on the back of the roll, certify¬ 
ing in which House the same originated; which endorse¬ 
ment shall be signed by the secretary or clerk (as the 
case may be) of the House in which the same did ori¬ 
ginate, and shall be entered on the journal of each 
House. The said committee shall report the day of 
presentation to the President, which time shall also be 
carefully entered on the journal of each House. 

10. All orders, resolutions, and votes, which are to 
be presented to the President of the United States for 
his approbation, shall, also, in the same manner, be pre¬ 
viously enrolled, examined, and signed, and shall be 
presented in the same manner, and by the same com¬ 
mittee, as provided in cases of bills. 

11. When the Senate and House of Representatives 
shall judge it proper to make a joint address to the Pre¬ 
sident, it shall be presented to him in his audience 
chamber, by the President of the Senate, in the presence 
of the Speaker and both Houses. 

12. When a bill or resolution which shall have pass¬ 
ed in one House, is rejected in the other, notice thereof 
shall be given to the House in which the same shall have 
passed. 


OF THE TWO HOUSES. 


59 


13. When a bill or resolution which has been pass¬ 
ed in one House shall be rejected in the other, it shall 
not be brought in during the same session, without a 
notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of that House 
in which it shall be renewed. 

14. Each House shall transmit to the other all papers 
on which any bill or resolution shall be founded. 

15. After each House shall have adhered to their dis¬ 
agreement, a bill or resolution shall be lost. 

16. No bill that shall have passed one House, shall 
be sent for concurrence to the other, on either of the 
three last days of the session. 

17. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the 
House of Representatives and the Senate, shall be pre¬ 
sented to the President of the United States for his ap¬ 
probation, on the last day of the session. 

18. When bills which have passed one House are 
ordered to printed in the other, a greater number of 
copies shall not be printed than may be necessary for 
the use of the House making the order. 


L » 





INDEX 


6 / 


TO THE 

HTJLES OP THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. 


A. 


Absence , from the Senate, not allowed without leave, 

without leave, in cases of, the Sergeant-at-arms 
may be sent, - 

Address of both Houses , to the President of the United 
States, to be presented by the President of the 
Senate, ... [Joint rule,] 

Adherence of both Houses , effect of, * [Joint,] 

Adjournment , motion for, has precedence. 

Admission on the floor, the persons entitled to, 
Amendments to a resolution to amend the Constitution, car¬ 
ried by a majority, - 

Appeal allowed from the decision of the President, 


B. 


Bills may be introduced upon one day*s notice, 

shall be read twice before amendment or reference, 

reported, shall be printed, - 

shall receive three readings on different days, 

on second reading, considered as in Committee of the 

Whole,. 

proceedings on, at different stages, - 
titles of, only, and parts affected by amendments, in¬ 
serted on the journal, * 
engrossed, how examined, reported, and entered, - 


on their passage to be on paper, - [Joint,] 

passed, shall be enrolled on parchment, do. - 
enrolled, shall be examined, - do. - 

examined, shall be signed by the presiding officer of 
each House, ... [Joint,] 

signed, to be presented, for approval, and report¬ 
ed, - - - - - [Joint,] 

when rejected, each House to be notified, do. - 
6 


No. Page. 


8 

46 

8 

46 


11 

58 

15 

59 

11 

46 

47 

54 

43 

53 

6 

45 


25 

48 

27 

49 

25 

48 

26 

48 

28 

49 

29 

49 

31 

50 

33 

51 

5 

57 

6 

57 

7 

58 

8 

58 

10 

58 

12 

58 




62 


Index to the Rules of the Senate. 


No. Page. 

Bills , passed by one House, and rejected by the other, in 

what manner they may be renewed, [Joint,] 13 59 

adhered to by both Houses, lost, - do. - 15 59 

cannot be sent from one House to the other during 

the three last days of the session, - [Joint,] 16 59 

shall be presented for approval before the last day, 

[Joint,] 17 59 

number to be printed when passed by one House, 

[Joint,] 18 59 

Blanks , in filling, what motions have preference, - 13 47 

Business, unfinished, has preference, - - - 15 47 

c. 

Chair to be addressed, - 
Character of persons nominated to be kept secret, 

Commit, motion to, in order at any time before final pas 
sage, - 

Committees, standing, - 

how appointed, - 

on enrolled bills, - 

reports from standing, when received, 
reports of, to lie one day, 

Communications, confidential, to be kept secret, - 
Conference, proceedings of Committee of - [Joint,' 

Consent, bills may be read three times in one day, by una 

nimous, - 

nominations may be considered on the day re 

ceived, by unanimous, 

Constitution, what majority requisite to amend a resolutio 
proposing amendments to the - 
Conversation among the members, not allowed during de 
bate, or while papers are reading, 

D. 

Debate, no member to speak more than twice, in the same, 
in one day, without leave, - 
not allowed on a call to order, - 
prohibited on a motion to adjourn, 
not allowed on a call for reading papers, - 
not allowed in taking yeas and nays, 

Documents, to be printed only by special order, - 

E. 

Executive record, extracts from, prohibited, - - 42 53 

Executive proceedings, to be kept in separate books, - 41 53 


4 45 

6 45 

11 47 

14 47 

16 47 

25 48 


3 45 

39 52 

29 49 

33 50 

34 51 

7 45 7 

24 48 

26 49 

38 52 

1 57 

26 48 

36 51 

43 53 

2 45 




Index to the Rules of the Senate. 

F. 

Floor of Senate, reporters placed on, 

the persons entitled to admission on, 

G. 

Galleries, when they shall be cleared, - 

H. 

House, each shall transmit to the other the papers on which 
bills are founded, - - [Joint,] 


J. 

Journal, to be read on a quorum assembling, 

to •contain the titles, only, of bills, and the parts 
affected by proposed amendments, 
every vote to be entered on, - 
a brief statement of every memorial, petition, and 
paper, to be entered on, - 

to be as concise as possible, when acting as in 
Committee of the Whole, - 

engrossed bills to be entered on, 

L. 

Leave to bring in a bill, one day’s notice of motion for, re¬ 
quired ------ 


M. 


Members , prohibited from speaking to each other during 
debate, - 

present, not a quorum, empowered to send for 
absent members, - 
shall express assent or dissent by ay or no 
Member, when he speaks, shall address the Chair, 

first rising and addressing the Chair, shall speak 
first, ------ 

called to order by President or Senator, shall sit 
down, - 

words of, shall be taken down, when called to 
order by a Senator, - 
shall not absent himself without leave, - 
any, may desire a motion to be reduced to writing, 
may have a question divided, if susceptible of di¬ 
vision, 


63 

No. Page. 
47 54 

47 54 

18 47 

BE* 

14 59 

1 45 

31 50 

32 50 

32 50 

32 50 

33 51 

25 48 

2 45 

8 46 

22 48 

3 45 

5 45 

6 45 

7 45 

8 46 

10 46 

12 46 


64 


Index to the Rules of the Senate. 


Member , required to vote when yeas and nays are called, 
not allowed to vote after decision is announced, - 
Memorial or petition , contents of, shall be stated before 
received and read, - 

when received, - - - - - 

how referred, - 

contents of, to be entered on the journal, 
Messages , how announced, - - [Joint,] 

by whom sent, - - - - do. - 

Messengers , when introduced, - 

Motion , not to be debated until seconded, - 
Motion, made and seconded, shall, if desired, be reduced 
to writing, - 

to be read before debated, - 

to adjourn, has preference, - 

to adjourn, to be decided without debate, 
privileged, what shall be, when a subject is under 
debate, - 

privileged in filling blanks, ... 

privileged, in reference to select or standing com¬ 
mittees, - 

to close the galleries, shall be discussed confiden¬ 
tially, . 

to admit persons for the purpose of presenting 
memorial, not in order, - 
to reconsider, when and by whom may be made - 

N- 

Newspapers , not to be read while a member is speaking, - 
Nominations not to be considered on the day received, un¬ 
less by consent - 

Notice of one day required of an intended motion for leave 
to bring in a bill, - - - - - 

of bills rejected, to be given, - [Joint,] 

0 . 

Orders of the day, special, not called before one o’clock, - 
of the day, special, unfinished business has prefer¬ 
ence in, - 

Order, upon a call to, the member shall sit down, - 
questions of, to be decided without debate, 
appeals on questions of, may be made from the Pre¬ 
sident’s decision, - 

on questions of, the President may require the sense 
of the Senate * 


No. Page, 

16 

47 

17 

47 

24 

48 

24 

48 

24 

48 

32 

50 

2 Sc 3 

57 

4 

57 

46 

53 

9 

46 

10 

46 

10 

46 

11 

46 

11 

46 

11 

46 

13 

47 

35 

51 

18 

47 

19 

47 

44 

53 


2 

45 

36 

51 

25 

48 

12 

58 


30 

49 

15 

47 

6 

45 

6 

45 

6 

45 

6 

45 


Index to the Rules of the Senate . 


65 


Order , upon a call to, by a Senator, for words spoken, the 
exceptionable words shall be taken down 


P. 


Papers and Documents not to be printed without special 
order - 

Papers relating to bills to accompany them, [Joint] 

Persons not admitted to present a memorial, 8cc. - 
entitled to admission on floor, the, 

Petition , before received, contents of, to be stated 
when received, - 
how referred, - 

contents of those presented to be entered 
on the journal - 

President to be first addressed by the speaker 

to decide when two or more rise at the same time 
to speak - 

to decide questions of order - 

may call for the sense of the Senate on a question 
of order - 

may desire a motion to be reduced to writing 
to decide on an equal division ... 
decision of, on an equal division, to be taken by 
the Secretary - 
shall put all questions - 

may, for a limited time, name a member to per¬ 
form the duties of the Chair ... 
may appoint a chairman, while the Senate are act¬ 
ing as in Committee of the Whole 
to give notice of the several readings of bills 
to have the regulation of the parts of the Capitol 
appropriated to the Senate - 
President of the U. S. to be assigned the President’s chair 
when attending the deliberations of the Senate 

Q. 

Question under debate, when, and by what motions super¬ 
seded ------ 

may be divided - 

final on second reading - - - - 

to be decided, ay or no - 
to be put by the President of the Senate - 
on amending the constitution, short of the main 
question, to be determined by a majority 
Quorum , proceedings when a less number shall have as¬ 
sembled - 


No. Page. 


7 

45 

25 

48 

14 

59 

19 

47 

47 

54 

24 

48 

24 

48 

24 

48 

32 

50 

3 

45 

5 

45 

6 

45 

6 

45 

10 

46 

21 

48 

21 

48 

22 

48 

23 

48 

28 

49 

26 

48 

47 

54 

36 

51 


11 

46 

12 

46 

29 

49 

22 

48 

22 

48 

43 

53 

8 

46 



66 


Index to the Rules of the Senate. 

R. 


Reading newspapers prohibited while the Senate are in 
session ------ 

of a paper called for, and objected to, to be de¬ 
cided by the Senate 
Reconsideration, motion for, may be made by one of the 
majority - 

or by a member of the side that prevailed 
motion for, must be made within two days 
after vote 

motion for, must be made before the sub¬ 
ject-matter is out of possession of the 
Senate - 

Reconsideration of a question requiring the affirmative vote 
of two-thirds, to be determined by a ma¬ 
jority . 

Record, Executive, extracts from, prohibited 
Reference of petitions, &c. how made, - 
Reports of standing committees, when received, - 
of committees, to lie one day, - 
Reporters placed on the floor, - 

Resolutions, requiring approbation of the President, to 
amend constitution, and grant money, to be 
treated as bills - 
other, to lie one day - 

on third reading, amended only by consent - 
engrossed, recommitted, and reported, to be 
again read second time 

further proceedings in passing 


No. 


- 14 


20 

44 


Page. 

45 

47 

47 
53 


- 20 48 


- 20 47 


44 

42 

24 

24 

26 

47 


26 

26 

29 


29 

[Joint] £ 


53 

53 
48 

48 

49 

54 


48 

49 
49 

49 

58 

59 


s. 


Secrecy enjoined on confidential communications - 
enjoined on remarks on persons nominated 
enjoined on treaties .... 

Secretary to endorse bills passed, &c. - 

to take the decision of the Vice President when 
the Senate is equally divided - - - 

to receive from committee, and enter engrossed 

bills,. 

to furnish the President with transcripts of execu¬ 
tive journal, - - - . - 

reporters on the floor under direction of the, 
to enrol on parchment, bills passed by both 
Houses, - [Joint,] 

to endorse on bills originating in Senate, do. - 


38 52 

39 52 

38 52 

45 53-57 

21 48 

33 51 

42 53 

47 54 

6 57 

9 58 


Index to the Rules of the Senate. 


67 


Secretary to be chosen on second Monday of first session of 
every Congress, - 

to attend and take minutes when Senate is con¬ 
vened to any other place, - 
to make returns on nominations, from day to day, 
to return or deliver no paper, except original 
treaties, without order of Senate, 
to furnish no extract from executive journal with¬ 
out special order, - 

to convey messages to House of Representatives, 
Senate f proceedings of, when a number less than a quorum 
shall have assembled - 

proceedings of, in quasi committee to be entered 
concisely ------ 

ceremonial proceedings when met by the President 
of the United States at any other place than the 
Senate Chamber - 


relating to the executive proceedings of 


who shall be admitted when engaged in Executive 
or confidential business - 
the proceedings of, to be recorded separately 
transcripts and extracts from Executive records, in 
what cases furnished - 
votes of, to be entered on journal - 
contents of memorials and petitions presented to 
to be entered on the journal 
shall be cleared of all persons except their officers 
when acting on Executive business 
Executive proceedings of, to be recorded sepa 
rately from the Legislative 
officers of, when they shall be elected 
Speaking , among the members, prohibited during debate, 
more than twice in one day on the same subject, 
prohibited - 


No. Page. 

49 

54 

36 

51 

42 

53 

42 

53 

42 

53 

45 

55 

8 

46 

32 

50 

36 

51 

f36 

51 

| 37 

51 

^ 38 

52 

| 39 

52 

140 

51-3 

40 

53 

41 

53 

42 

53 

32 

50 

32 

50 

40 

53 

41 

53 

48 

54 

2 

45 

4 

45 


T. 


Time , longest^ first put - - - - - 13 47 

Treaties , proceedings on - - - - - 37 51 

to be kept secret, until injunction be removed - 38 52 


u. 


Unfinished business f has preference in special orders - 15 47 



68 


uo/ys/ 

' ' A 

Index to the Rules of the Senate. 

v. 9 '■ 

No. Page. 

Vice President, or President pro tempore, may appoint a 

chairman - - - - 23 48 

Vote, every, to be entered on the journal - - - 32 50 

no member allowed to, after decision is announced - 17 47 


Words , exceptionable, shall be taken down, when a call to 

order is made by a Senator - - - 7 45 

Y. 

Yeas and nays, to be called alphabetically - - - 16 47 

may be required by one-fifth - - 16 47 

to be taken without debate - - 16 47 

after being taken, no member allowed to 
enter his vote - - - - 17 47 




















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